“It is important that you know in particular how to turn off your water and electricity supply, as this can limit further damage to your property.”

Bucks Fire and Rescue Service is urging residents to take time to locate their stop tap and make sure they can turn it clockwise to shut the water off should they need to in an emergency - or if a similarly prolonged period of wet or frozen weather takes place in the future.

Phill explained: “Most of us don’t have a need to isolate our water intake from one year to the next, but there is nothing worse than trying to find it for the first time in the middle of the night with water coming through your ceiling.”

“Please take the time today to find where yours is.

“For those of us with elderly or vulnerable neighbours, it would be of great help if you could perhaps pop around and locate their stop tap so that if they need assistance, help could be at hand.

“While we understand that these incidents can cause damage and distress to residents, and emergency services will help where they can, a front-line resource called out to assist with internal property flooding is unable to attend other lifesaving incidents.”